“It’s getting pretty hard to do things that I normally would’ve done.” Those are the words of Alice Goldstein, a resident of The Birches at Chambers in the Town of Ulster. In the last few years, Alice was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the incurable, degenerative disease that could take away her ability to walk without assistance. Alice even reports that she’s beginning to lose some of the ability in her hands.
So it’s come as quite a relief that The Birches at Chambers features fully adaptable, ADA-compliant amenities.
“If I do get in a wheelchair, the counter can be pushed back, so that’s great,” she says. “That was one of my concerns, as a person who’s facing the possibility of being in a wheelchair. It gave me great comfort to know that I don’t have to move out of this apartment.”
Ensuring that residents can stay in their homes and maintain their independent lifestyles is one of the core philosophies upon which Birchez Associates is built — aging in place (for a video on that commitment, click here). Each and every apartment in the building has the capability to be adjusted to accommodate for changes in residents’ mobility.
But the commitment to maintaining residents’ wellness doesn’t stop at their apartments’ doors. The Chambers at Birches and Esopus both feature a fully equipped fitness center, which, along with a trainer who specializes in age-appropriate exercises and stretching, is free of charge to residents. This is a result of a strategic alliance forged by Steve Aaron with Kingston’s Signature Fitness owner Joe Perry. One-on-one appointments can also be set before or after open hours with the trainer, Barbara Devine, for a small fee.
“You can do all the exercises you need or you want,” says Joe Vanacore, a World War II veteran who lives on the first floor of The Birches at Chambers. Joe worked in the construction business for fifty building stairs, but these days he uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, making stairs simply impossible. Fortunately, the building is constructed for the ease of its residents, no matter what their method of movement. Elevators cut out the need for stairs, while convenient access to mail, garbage, and laundry on each floor provides opportunities for residents to continue living independently.
Of course, when the need for medical assistance or advice arises, that’s covered, too. Birchez Associates has formed a strategic alliance with Elant, Inc., a not-for-profit healthcare organization that provides a nurse with regular office hours at both The Birches at Chambers and The Birches at Esopus. The nurse can be consulted, free of charge, regarding any medical questions a resident may have, including drug interactions. Small, personalized touches—like being given cards with medical information gathered during sessions for future visits — help residents take control of their health and make better decisions to help them live better lives.
The end result of these and other amenities is that residents are given a place they can truly call “home.” Many of the people living in Birchez Associates’ communities are lifelong residents of the Hudson Valley, and have had to face tough financial times where they had difficulty making ends meet on fixed incomes. The communities built by Birchez Associates give them the option to stay in the area they’ve lived their whole lives, stay close to their families, while giving them the peace of mind that comes with affordable rent and adaptable, top flight amenities (just click here to see a video on our amenities) .
Joe Vanacore says it best when he recalls first laying eyes on his new home: “When I saw this apartment, I said, ‘this is it, I’ll never move again.’”
Brian Rubin for Birchez Associates, birchezassociates@gmail.com
